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New Delhi: It was a celebrity push for the Indian Army when it got itself a brand ambassador by enlisting southern superstar Mohanlal as an honorary Lt Colonel in the Territorial Army. And for once, it was the celebrated film actor who had stars in his eyes.

“It is an amazing moment. My family is with me in one of the best moments of my life,” Mohanlal said.

In reel life Mohanlal tackled the role of an Army man in two recent films. The successful Keerthi Chakra in 2006 saw him don the role of a Major while more recently in Kurukshetra he played a Colonel fighting the Kargil war.

The actor will be affiliated to the Kannur Terriers, a Territorial Army unit under the Madras Regiment.

To the star, the Army's olive green uniform has been the most powerful symbol of service to the nation.

“They asked me to be the brand ambassador of the Territorial Army. So it a great honour for me,” Mohanlal said.

A lot of effort went behind the actor’s crisp salutes as Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor welcomed Mohanlal into the fold of the citizen soldiers. An ustaad from the Indian Military Academy put Mohanlal through a crash course in military etiquette to prepare him for the induction.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister AK Antony, who too belongs to Kerala, was overjoyed at the turn of events. “This will be an inspiration for the younger generation to join the armed forces,” Antony said.

Like cricket icon Kapil Dev who enlisted in the Territorial Army in 2008, Mohanlal's role will be to inspire youth to join the armed forces and spread some stardust in the barracks.

His message is that it's cool and aspirational to join the Indian Army.

More on: Mohanlal, Territorial Army, Kannur Terriers, Madras Regiment